How Long to Spend in Egypt: Itineraries for First-Timers

First things. Before you can determine how many days to spend in Egypt, you’ll want to have a budget in mind, and decide what you most want from your visit to Egypt.

For example, some visitors come purely to enjoy Egypt’s best beaches and dive experiences. Others want to focus entirely on Egypt’s ancient attractions, like Luxor and other treasures of the Nile Valley.

With that in mind, you’ll want to research the historic sites and attractions you most want to see. And, if you fancy mixing it up, you’ll need to factor in transfer times.

Top tip: read up on the best things to do in Egypt to help you plan your trip. Or, to take a whole lot of hassle out of planning, talk to our Egypt travel experts.

Egypt in One week
Planning to visit Egypt for seven days? Be assured you can see a whole lot of top attractions in a week.

If culture is top of your travel priorities, your best bet is to base yourself in Cairo to access a richness of ancient treasures. In the city itself, don’t miss visiting the esteemed Egyptian Museum.

Cairo also offers easy access to incredible day trips, among them the Pyramids of Giza, and the show-stopping Sphinx.

You can also escape Cairo’s intensity by taking an immersive day-trip to Alexandria. With a string of beaches, modern Alexandria has a laid-back vibe, with the Mediterranean Sea and maritime influences on show.

Though Alexandria was an important centre of Hellenistic civilisation and the capital of Ptolemaic, Roman and Byzantine Egypt, little remains from those eras. But in good news for history buffs, the Alexandria National Museum, set in an Italianate villa, reveals the city’s history.

As part of your 7-day trip, you could also explore the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Citadel of Fort Qaitbey, and the Library of Alexandria. Fancy some retail therapy? Don’t miss Khan el-Khalili Bazaar.

During a week-long visit, you can also take a trip on the Nile, with plenty of short cruise trips available.

You could also arrange to visit the awe-inspiring oasis at Faiyum (also spelt Fayoum), some 62 miles southwest of Cairo.

Here Lake Qarun serves scenic beauty, with Kom Aushim, located past the eastern tip of the lake, hosting the ruins of a temple dedicated to the crocodile-headed god Sobek.

With 10 days in Egypt, it’s perfectly possible to combine seeing a stack of astounding ancient attractions with exploring cities, and soaking up sun on beautiful beaches. You could also add in hopping over the border to Jordan.

In addition to doing everything outlined in our seven-day suggestion, make your way to the magnificent Montazah Palace Gardens. Located in the Alexandria area, this opulent complex has a stunning coastal setting.

Having ten days in Egypt also gives you the freedom to enjoy a longer cruise along the Nile. How does stopping off at Aswan High Dam, Edful‘s temples and Luxor sound? You could even opt to include the resort city of Sharm El Sheikh.

Inspired by the sound of a cruise? See our eight-day Nile Cruise itinerary.

For an entirely different outlook, you could journey into Jordan.The cultural treasures of Amman and Petra are second-to-none.

Indeed, meandering Petra’s monastery route is a Jordanian must-do — the views from the mountain-top are jaw-droppingly spectacular.

Egypt in 14 days/2 weeks
With planning, having two weeks in Egypt means you could opt to see an array of areas. You could also spend time in Egypt, Jordan and Israel or around Morocco.

To take in a lot of Nile attractions in one immersive, exhilarating trip, a cruise could be the way to go.

After spending time in Cairo and seeing the Pyramids of Giza, lots of cruise itineraries include drifting down the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo, and Philae Temple near Aswan.